Boat mooring device



1962 D. WALTMAN 3,064,615

BOAT MOORING DEVICE Filed Oct. 8, 1959 Plq. l

IN VEN TOR. D62 BER? W04 rM/w United States Patent 3,064,615 Patented Nov. 20, 1962" 3,064,615 BOAT MOORING DEVICE Delbert Waltman, 407 E. Wheeler, Kokomo, Ind; Geraldine Waltman Baker, administratrix of said Delbert Waltman, deceased Filed Oct. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 845,186 4 Claims. (Cl. 114-230) The present invention relates to a device for connecting a boat or the like to a pier, landing or other fixed object.

A well known problem to users of small boats is the difficulty of properly securing a boat to a pier or landing. If the boat is secured tightly against a pier or landing in a manner proper for a given water level, the water level may change causing the boat to be submerged or possibly causing damage to the pier. If the boat is not tightly secured, waves may bang the boat against the pier causing damage to the boat and pier.

It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide a boat fastening device which will retain a boat in position adjacent a pier while permitting a certain amount of vertical and lateral movement of the boat with the waves and rise or fall of the water level.

A further object of this invention is to provide a boat fastening device which is simple in construction, is strong, durable and inexpensive to manufacture and is easy to install.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a boat fastening device which includes a coil spring having an eye fixed to one end thereof, the eye being suitable for attaching the spring to a dock, pier or the like. A rod is fixed to the other end of the spring and projects perpendicularly to the axis of the spring. There is also provided means defining an aperture for reception of the rod, said means being adapted for attachment to the side of a boat with the aperture extending vertically. A detent spring is mounted within the rod for releasably holding the rod within the aperture.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a small boat and a pier showing the boat fastened to the pier by boat-fastening means embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows and showing in detail a representative one of the boat-fastening means embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, this invention comprises a coil spring 10, the coils of which are tightly wound with each of the coils of the spring resiliently engaging the coils adjacent thereto in such a manner that the spring resiliently maintains its axis in a straight line. In a preferred arrangement for small boats, two such springs and 11 are fixed to a dock or pier 12 in such a manner that they extend horizontally from the dock. The boat 15 is fastened to the dock by connecting the free end of each spring to the boat.

In FIG. 2, there is illustrated a representative one of the coil springs, the device incorporating the spring 10 being different from the device incorporating the spring 11 only in that the spring 10 is longer than the spring 11. Press fitted within one end 16 of the spring 10 is a rod or bar 17 having an eye 18 formed at the free end thereof. The spring 10 is fixed to the pier 12 by means of a bolt 20 or may be fixed thereto in any suitable man- Press fitted within the other end 21 of the spring 10 is a right angle bar 22 having an L-shaped spring 25 mounted upon the right angular projecting portion 26 of the rod 22." One leg 27 of the spring 25 is fixed within a groove 28 extending generally axially of the projecting portion 26' of the rod and the other leg 30 of the spring 25 is reciprocably received within an aperture 31 extending transversely through the projecting portion 26 of the rod 22.

Fixed to the forward portion of the boat 15 by means of screws 34, is a member 32 defining a vertical aper ture 33 therethrough. In order to fasten the boat 15 to the pier 12, the projecting portion 26 of the rod 22 is passed downwardly through the aperture 33 causing the spring 25 to be depressed within the aperture 31. After the rod 22 is passed a sufiicient distance through the aperture 33, the spring 25 will pop out of the aperture 31 so as to lock the rod within the aperture 33. In order to remove the rod from the aperture, it is only necessary to depress the spring 25 within the aperture 31.

From the above description, it will be obvious the present invention provides a boat fastening device which will resiliently retain a boat in position adjacent a pier but will permit a certain amount of vertical and lateral movement of the boat with the waves and the rise or fall of the water level. It will also be obvious that the present invention provides a boat fastening device which is simple in construction, is strong, long-lasting and inexpensive and which is easy to install.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected. For example, the above described dock could be replaced by any suitable landing or stationary element.

The invention claimed is:

1. A boat fastening device comprising a coil spring, a pair of rods each of which is press fitted within one end of said coil spring, said rods and spring being arranged coaxially, a first of said rods having an eye formed at the free end thereof for attachment to a dock or the like, the other of said rods having a portion projecting perpendicularly to the axes of said rods and spring, means defining an aperture for reception of said projecting portion, said means adapted for attachment to a boat with said aperture extending vertically, and a detent spring mounted within said projecting portion for releasably holding said portion within said aperture.

2. A boat fastening device comprising a pair of coil springs, a pair of right angle bars, each of said springs having one of said bars press fitted within one end thereof, a boat, a pair of members fixed to one side of said =boat, one adjacent the 'bow and one adjacent the stern, each of said members having a vertically extending aperture therethrough, the free ends of said right angle bars projecting downwardly through said apertures, a detent spring mounted within each of said bars for removably holding said bars within said members, a pair of rods having eyes formed at one end thereof, said rods having their other ends press fitted within the other ends of said coil springs, a pier, and means received within said eyes fixing said bars to the pier.

3. A boat fastening device comprising a coil spring, an eye fixed to one end of said spring, a stationary element, a bolt passing through said eye and fixing said device to said stationary element, a rod fixed to the other end of said spring and projecting perpendicularly to the axis of said spring, means defining an aperture for reception of said rod, said means adapted 'for attachment to aboatwith said aperture extending vertically, and a detent spring mounted Within said rod for removably holding said rod within said aperture.

, 4. A boat fastening device comprising an elongated coil spring, said coil spring being tightly wound with each of the coils of said spring resiliently engaging the coil adjacent thereto in such a manner that said'spring resilien-tly maintains its axis in a straight line, a pair of rods each of which is fixed within one end of said coil spring, said rods and spring being arranged coaxially, a first of said rods having an eye formed at the free end thereof for attachment to a dock or the like, the other of said rods having a portion projecting perpendicularly to the axes of said rods and springs, means defining an aperture for reception of said projecting portion, said means adapted for attachment to a boat with said aperture extending vertically, and a detent spring mounted within said projecting portion for yieldably holding said portion within said aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 911,447 Rossler Feb. 2, 1909 2,244,995 Klaassen June 10, 1941 2,552,424 Gorman May 8, 1951 2,569,783 Smith Oct. 2, 1951 2,672,310 Rush Mar. 16, 1954 2,912,953 Olsen Nov. 17, 1959 2,938,492 Kulick May 31, 1960 2,965,064 Wallace Dec. 20, 1960 

